JOE PICCININI
Joe Piccinini resigned from the position of fire chief of the Anderson Fire Protection District as of July 1, 2009, the district board announced at a board meeting July 7. The resignation marked the end of Piccinini's tenure as fire chief at the district, which began October 15, 2007.
Chairman Keith Webster read a prepared statement signed by Piccinini, who was not present at the meeting: "I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve the people of Anderson; however at this time, different professional and personal opportunities have presented themselves and I must resign my position with the Anderson Fire Protection District."
Piccinini was placed on paid leave May 12, 2009, and an investigation by the district into the management of the district ensued.
"It's been a stressful, long eight weeks on my wife and I," Piccinini said during a phone interview following the meeting. "We are glad it is behind us and look forward to the future."
Details of the investigation and any agreements between Piccinini and the fire board would remain confidential without a court order, Webster said. Both the Anderson Valley Post and Record Searchlight filed public records requests for the written report of the investigation conducted by Neil Purcell, Jr.
"I'm thankful that it is over one way or the other," acting chief Andy Nichols said following the meeting. "The district needs to pick up and move on. We have a lot of mending to do with the public."
Another letter signed by Piccinini was read by Webster stating that "over the past several weeks a great deal of criticism has been wrongly directed at the Fire Board as well as toward me. In both cases, those persons complaining were not informed of all of the facts. I sincerely regret that accusations have been directed at the Board as they have only been doing their duty. . . ."
"I think its a great loss to the community that we're losing Chief Piccinini," said Debe Hopkins, a vocal supporter of the chief during the investigation. "Personally I thought he did a fine job. He brought a lot of experience to a small town fire district, and I'm saddened we brought him all the way from Oklahoma for such a short term and didn't figure out a way to keep him."
The board stated its intent to begin the process of selecting a new fire chief. All matters related to the investigation and terms of any agreements between Piccinini and the board are to remain confidential, board chairman Keith Webster said.
Andy Nichols would continue to serve as acting fire chief.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 13
HeardEnough writes:
"... those persons complaining were not informed of all of the facts. I sincerely regret that accusations have been directed at the Board as they have only been doing their duty. . . ."
those persons complaining were not ill informed...they were lied to. mr piccinini (not deserving of the title "chief") could have cut down on the hatred directed at the board and firefighters by being truthful with his supporters.
i'm sure his apology was far from sincere. where is the apology to the men he commanded?
AndersonMom writes:
Hatred at the firefighters? Wow, it's over and you are still twisting everything. And you were the only one spewing hatred. Standing up for yourself and standing against someone who consistently perverts the law for her and her supporters selfish schemes is not hatred, it's a strong desire to take out the trash. Many of the firefighters were stuck in this mess and afraid for their jobs if they stood with chief. They know that they have support and someday that attitude against them which has given Unions a bad attitude in the past, will be changed so they can enjoy their job AND their freedom of speech. As for CHIEF lying, uh...no! Again you are throwing blame on him and off of your friend. Most of what has been stated here has come from the mouths of Norma, Keith, Butch, and others involved on "their side". If I'm wrong, please show me precisely wear somebody said "Chief said....." It simply didn't happen. Thank God this stress is over for Chief. May he and his family be blessed. But remember, it is the "Concerned Citizens for...Anderson..." not the citizens for chief. It is merely the injustice toward him that brought people together. I, for one, will not be disappearing into the shadows just because he is being forced to move on with his life. I am here. I am watching. I am listening. And I have no plans of shutting up. They may ask me to, but like the old saying goes. "They can want in one hand and spit in the other and see which one fills up the fastest."
HeardEnough writes:
AndersonMom...psssssssst...he's no longer "Chief". Could you and the Hopkins Hate Group please refrain from speaking for the "citizens" of Anderson. Most of us are quite happy with the progress of Anderson in the last 10 years. Let Hopkins fight it out with her former mother-in-law, Norma Comnick on her own. That is what this truely is all about. If you are concerned about Anderson, join the Chamber Of Commerce and get them back on board to do what they were designed to do. Promote Anderson business.
southcounty1 writes:
Hopkins had her ears pinned back on this one. But there is much more to come. The Grand Jury was asked by the board to investigate. Then the DA will investigate. What about Regency Palce and its role? The chamber?Will the chamber see its taxpayer subsidy disappear? I don't think you'll ever see a firefighter, his family or his friends and many other people ever use Lassen Realty again, either, because of its role in this hate campaign.Be careful what you wish for.....
Treachery_Runs_Deep writes:
The Fire Board had no choice but to have the grand jury begin an investigation, the reason being is that enough private Anderson citizens complained enough to make it happen. The Board decided to make it appear they did something proactive but it's not true. Joining the Chamber is a great idea, do you have any idea at all how much Comnick hates them? So, yes please join. Anderson business cannot or will not be supported with the lack of visionaries that run our town.
Hopkins had nothing to do with all the angry people wanting to keep our Fire Chief. Citizens decided on their own that things weren't right with Butch, Norma or Keith. Don't forget Keith is under pending investigation for his financial wrongdoings. You're hanging your hopes on a lot of has-beens.
Considering that selling a home actually requires work on the homeowner's part and we've already determined that most of the firefighters don't really want to work anyway, they won't have any need of a realty company.
The hate belongs squarely on the unholy trinity. Recall time.
ForAnderson writes:
HeardEnough writes: "If you are concerned about Anderson, join the Chamber Of Commerce and get them back on board to do what they were designed to do. Promote Anderson business."
Last time I checked, the Anderson Chamber of Commerce had more than tripled their membership. There is no need to "get them back on board." IF you ever attended a Greeter Meeting, you would see that business people(80-100 consistantly each week) are always there networking. As a business owner, the Chamber has been great to and for me. Evidently this is just one more example of you not knowing what you are talking about. Your posts are coming across as hate-filled. I can only wonder what is the driving force behind YOUR campaign against citizens who dared to stand up and speak for what they felt was right.
May I remind you, this is America. We all have the privilege of freedom. If I hated everyone whose thoughts and ideas were opposite of mine, I would be a sad,lonely person. Sounds to me like that describes you; sad, lonely with something gnawing at your insides all the time. Must be an awful way to try to live. As for me, I have friends on both sides of this and many other of life's issues. We agree to disagree and still enjoy our lives as friends. Perhaps you should stop and look inside yourself to see what motivates you. It may surprise you to see that the real issue is your lack of satisfaction with your life.
HeardEnough writes:
For Anderson-membership filled with redding businesses. The former chamber used to actually have events. Hey, now that's a concept! Your biggest event is a dinner where you pat each other on the back. Did they ever get the award back they presented to jim shelp after he was let go from the fire department? maybe you can present it to "chief joe" this year. Greeters isn't an event. it's networking. it does nothing to spotlight business to the public. if the chamber was so good, why are they on the public dole? the redding and red bluff chambers don't receive money from their city. talk about bite the hand that feeds you. i'm hoping that the involvement from chamber members in this hate campaign comes back to bite you at the tune of $20,000 a year. i'm going to sit back and watch the fur fly.
the chief has left the building....yeeeeeeee...haaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
andersonsnooper360 writes:
Hey Joe, (HeardEnough), you neither live in Anderson or the Fire District, so what's you're real issue? Clearly you are using the situation as your own personal hate campaign for Hopkins. Get over it.
HeardEnough writes:
more incorrect information. are you willing to make a wager on your post? maybe hire a private investigator. i say, back it up with cash! pick the amount. better go back to your source...they're wrong. save your money, toots.
ForAnderson writes:
Let me see: Anderson Chamber of Commerce Events-let's name a few.
1. Anderson Explodes presented by the Anderson Chamber of Commerce, July 3rd at the Shasta District Fairgrounds.
2. Toys From the Heart sponsored every Christmas by the Anderson Chamber of Commerce.
3. Anderson Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the City of Anderson presents the annual State of the City Luncheon.
4. Anderson Chamber of Commerce and the EDC (Shasta Economic Development Corporations Business Retention Expansion services through one of our Shasta BIZ Enterprise Zone Seminars)a free luncheon and several seminars which were 'very helpful' to local businesses (their words, not mine), held in the Community Center at City Hall recently.
5. Coming Sept. 12th, Anderson's first Downtown Street Fair,(E. Center Street) presented by Anderson Chamber of Commerce.
Just to name a few things! If you were involved, instead of sitting on the sidelines complaining, you would understand.
Oh yes, there are some Redding businesses in the Anderson Chamber just as there are some Anderson businesses in the Redding Chamber. After all, word of mouth is by far the best advertisement.
I would hazard a guess that you once owned a business which did not do well and somehow you are blaming the Anderson Chamber for it. Interesting how one's perspective changes when one is full of bitterness and strife. Move on, get a life and try to enjoy it.
HeardEnough writes:
Wow...you do a lot for the $20,000 the city gives you. Sorry I got off topic. About Mr. Piccinini...are you okay now with fire board and their actions? they didn't terminate him afterall. He resigned. That was his choice. Are you going to run for a position on the fire board now?
sickofit writes:
Still want to know if much of this started with an "anonymous" letter mailed to board members. As several people know, Comnick wrote the "anonymous" letter concerning APD chief John Sammis and sent it to herself and other council members. Funny, the same person who helped her in that endeavor was working for the AFD Chief at the same time he was ousted, and was working for Sammis when he was dumped. Hmmmmm....sure smells familiar, doesn't it?
HeardEnough writes:
I think you can quit worrying. The fire board was not acting on an anonymous letter. They acted on a complaint from the district fire fighters. This has all been clarified. The former chief "resigned". He was not terminated. Any questions about the issues should be directed at him. I'm sure he'll share the investigation with you entirely. Might ask him why he resigned.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.